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Rules

Sheepshead Scoring

How the card points you capture translate into game scores.

The basics
The picker’s team needs 61+ points (out of 120) to win. Defenders need 60+ points to win (ties go to defenders).

Win Conditions

Normal Win

Picker’s team: 61–90 points

Schneider

Picker scores 91+ (or is held to 30 or fewer)

Schwarz

Loser wins zero tricks

How Scores Are Distributed

In a typical 5-player game with a called partner:

OutcomePickerPartnerEach Defender
Picker wins+2+1−1
Picker loses−2−1+1

The picker always wins or loses double what the partner does. Scores are then multiplied by Schneider (2×) or Schwarz (3×).

Score Multipliers

Multiple conditions can stack:

  • Schneider: 2× (picker scored ≥91 OR was held to ≤30)
  • Schwarz: 3× (loser won no tricks)
  • Cracking: 2× (if enabled)
  • Re-crack: 2× more (4× total with crack)
  • Blitz: 2× (both black Queens)

Example: Schneider + Crack = 4× the base score.

Going Alone Scoring

If the picker goes alone (no partner), they get all the points — win or lose:

  • • Win alone: +4 (instead of +2 picker, +1 partner)
  • • Lose alone: −4 (instead of −2 picker, −1 partner)

Leaster Scoring

In a Leaster (everyone passes), the player with the fewest points wins:

  • • Winner: +2 from each other player
  • • Others: −2 each

(Total: winner gets +8, each loser gets −2.)

Track your scores

Our free score tracker auto-calculates everything — Schneider, doublers, and more.

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